Shear tenderness tester



June 14 .5 E. KERR 2 473 0 SHEAR TENDERNESS Filed Feb. 25, 1945 7 Sheeis- Sheet 1 1 INVENTOR v HARLES E. KERR ATTORNEY m m S Rs E E Km Em 6T m H S June 14, 1949.

7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1946 INVENTOR CHARLES E KERR @W 4W ATTORNEY June 14, 1949. c. E. KERR 3 SHEAR 'iENDERNE SS TESTER I Filed Feb. 25, 1946 7 Sheeis-Sheet 5 INVENTO R CHARLES E. KERR ATTORNEY June 14, 1949. 1- CLEEKERR 273,3 SHEAR NPERNE TESTER Filed 1-946 7 Sheets-She'e t'4 INVENTOR CHARLES E. KERR ATTORNEY June 14, 1949. a. E. KERR 2, 73,06

SHEAR TENDERKESS TESTER I Filed Feb. 25, 1946 'r' Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR CHARLES E. KERR ATTORNEY June 14, 1949. b; R 2,473,063

SHEAR TENDERNESS TESTER Filed Feb. 25, 1946 7 'sneis-sheet '7 141 13 ll] A xi \fi INVENTOR T I I3 .5 BY CHA Es 5. my?

ATTORNEY Patented June 14, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEAR TENDERNESS TESTER Charles E. Kerr, Hoopeston, Ill., assignor to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application February 25, 1946, Serial No. 650,013

20 Claims.

1 This invention relates to tenderness testing machines and is concerned with the provision of an improved machine which may be used for testing the tenderness of a wide variety of products, such as certain fresh vegetables, including peas, green beans, lima beans, whole kernel cut corn, asparagus, and the like; fish, shrimp, crab and other sea foods; meats; bread, cake and other bakery products; etc. For purposes of convenience, however, I shall herein disclose and describe my invention more particularly as it may be utilized for the testing of fresh peas.

It is fairly common practice in the canning industry at the present time to test peas for tenderness and to pay the grower on the basis of such tests, the younger and more tender peas bringing a higher price than the older and tougher peas. It is highly important therefore that the tests be conducted with a high degree of accuracy and it is one of the principal objects of my invention to provide a tenderness testing machine which is uniformly and highly accurate in its operation.

More specifically it is an object of my invention to provide a testing device adapted to determine the tenderness of a product by shearing a test sample of the product confined within a chamber and accurately measuring the resistance of the product to the shearing action.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for determining the tenderness of a product which is capable of handling a wide range of resistance pressures with accuracy and without the necessity of adjustment.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the character referred to which has a series of grid units composed of shearing blades arranged in telescoping relationship with each other and in which frictional contact between the blades is greatly reduced or substantially eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a testing apparatus of the above type employing cooperating sets of shearing blades in which one set of blades is fioatably mounted for telescoping movements with the other set of blades.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for applying and accurately measuring the force or pressure required to shear a product confined in a chamber, the force or pressure being applied to the product through shear blades movable through aligned slots formed in opposed measurable force or pressure on the product being tested, and to accomplish this result by the use of a fluid pressure motor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for determining the tenderness of a product in which a minimum of parts are exposed to the deteriorating action of water, juices, and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for determining the tenderness of a product which is of practical construc tion, adequately and uniformly powered, and sufficiently compact in structure as to lend itself to minimum of space consumption.

, Additional objects and advantages of the invention will more readily appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective looking at the front of a testing machine constructed according to the present invention, the parts being shown in position to receive a batch of peas;

Fig. 2 is a perspective looking at the rear of the machine shown in Fig. 1, the parts being shown in position to make a test and the pressure gauge being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, of the portion of the machine having the telescoping grid units;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the top cover plate for the testing chamber;

Fig. 7 is a perspective of the bottom closure plate for the testing chamber;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal section, of the pressure measuring means shown at the left hand end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section of the power transmitting mechanism shown at the right hand end of Fig. 1, the fluid reservoir being shown in elevation, and the piston of the fluid motor being shown in inactive position at one end of its cylinder;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a portion of the fluid motor cylinder of the power transmitting mechanism, showing the exposed elements of the valve device and associated parts for controlling the operation of the fluid motor in the normal inactive position when the piston of the fluid 3 motor is disposed within the cylinder in the manner shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 9, showing the piston of the fluid motor at the left hand end of the fluid motor cylinder;

Fig. 12 is an elevation similar to Fig. 10, showing the exposed parts of the control valve device in position to initiate movement of the fluid motor piston from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a vertical transverse section taken along the line l3-I3 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section of the control valve device taken along the line l4-!4 of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 15 is a vertical transverse section taken along the line l5-l5 of Fig. 14.

In general the testing machine of the present invention (see Figs. 1,2, 3 and 4) comprises a pair of telescoping grid units A and B so constructed and arranged with respect to each other as to provide, when the grid unit B is in a retracted position with respect to the grid unit A, a chamber C (Figs. 3 and 4) therebetween for a batch of peas to be tested. Normally, the grid unit A is yieldably held in a predetermined position by a pressure measuring device D, and the grid unit B is telescoped within the grid unit A by power transmitting mechanism E so as to first compact and then shear through the peas within the chamber C. The resistance of the peas within the chamber to the shearing action of the grid unit B is transmitted by the grid unit A to the pressure measuring device D and the latter indicates the tenderness of the batch of peas being tested so that the operator can determine their grade.

Referring to the specific construction of the embodiment of the testing machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings, a suitable frame is provided, comprising a platform or base II to which are attached legs l2 for supporting the base from a bench or the like (not shown).

The pressure measuring device D is fixedly mounted on the base I l by means of securing ele- .ments I3 (Figs. 1, 2, and 8), and the power transmitting mechanism E is likewise fixedly mounted on said base by securing elements 14 (Figs; 1', 2, 9 and 11). The pressure measuring device D is preferably located adjacent one end of the base i l, and the power transmitting mechanism E is located adjacent to the other end of the base.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, the pressure measuring device D comprises a cylinder block or body 20 having a pair of diametrically disposed ears 2!, 22, formed on its exterior adjacent to one end thereof. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the power transmitting mechanism E comprises a cylinder'block or body 23 having a pair of diametrically disposed ears 24, 25, formed on the exterior thereof. The ear 2| of cylinder 20 aligns with the ear 24 of cylinder 23, and the ear 22 of cylinder 20 aligns with the ear 25 of cylinder 23. All of the ears are bored, as indicated at 26, Figs. 1 and 2, to provide aligned pairs of openings. The openings 26 of the ears 2|, 24 receive the ends of a guide rod 21, and the openings 25 of the ears 22, 25 receive the ends of a guide rod 28. The guide rods 27, 23 are held fixedly arsounted in the ears, respectively, by set screws It will be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, that the longitudinal center line of the cylinder block 20 is arranged in alignment with the longitudinal center line of the cylinder block 23, and the construction and arrangement of the parts above described is such that the guide rods 21, 28 are disposed at opposite sides of the two cylinder blocks 20 and 23, with the centers of said guide rods located in the horizontal plane of the longitudinal center line of said cylinder blocks. The bodies of the cylinder blocks 20 and 23 provide standards by which the guide rod 27, 28 are carried. The purpose of the guide rods 21, 28 is to provide supporting means for the grid units A and B.

The cylinder block 20 of the pressure measuring device D is formed with a cylindrical bore 3| (Fig. 8), for a piston 32 on one end of a piston rod 33 which extends outwardly from the cylinder toward the yieldable grid unit A heretofore referred to.

The piston 32 is formed of a metallic disc 34, to the inner face of which there is mounted a leather sealing cup '35 having a peripheral outturned edge portion 38 in leakproof engagement with the surface of the cylinder 3|. The disc 34 and the leather cup 35 are mounted on the reduced end portion 31 of the piston rod 33 and are held thereon by means of a nut 38 and washer 38 as shown in Fig. 8.

The forward end of the cylinder 3| is open, as seen in Fig. 1, while the other end of said cylinder is closed by means of a removable cylinder head or cover 39 (Figs. 1, 2 and 8). The chamber 40 within the cylinder 3| between the piston 33 and the cylinder head 39 communicates with a pressure gauge 41 connected to the chamber by a pipe 42 and T fitting 42 The chamber 49 and pipe connection leading to the gauge 4| are kept completely filled with an operating liquid such as oil so that the gauge 4| is instantly responsive to any movement of the piston 32.

As shown in Fig. 1 the pressure gauge 4! is of a well known type comprising a graduated dial 43 over which works an indicating hand 44 and a limit hand 45, both mounted on a shaft 46 of said gauge. The indicating hand 44 is fixed to shaft 46 so that when said shaft is rotated by the operating mechanism of the gauge (not shown) as the result of displacement of the operating liquid in chamber 40 by piston 32 being moved towards the left (Figs. 1 and 8), the indicating hand 44 will indicate on the graduations 43 the amount of resistance offered by the batch of peas being tested by the machine. The limit hand 45 i'sloosely mounted on the shaft 46 and is actuated in' the customary manner by forward movement of the indicating hand 44 to register on the graduated dial 43 the limit of travel of hand 44. Upon the return movement of the indicating hand 44, the limit hand 45 remains at its forward position until it is manually returned to the starting position by the operator turning nut 41 on the outer end of shaft 46.

As shown best in Fig. 8, suitable means may be provided for maintaining chamber 43 and the pipe connections to the gauge 41 full or oil. In the instant case such means are shown as comprising an oil reservoir 48 which is connected to the pipe 42, through pipe 49, control valve device 50, pipe 5!, and T connection 42. The control valve device 50 comprises a valve ball 53 backed by a spring 54, the pressure of which can be varied by adjusting the retaining plug 55. The ball 53 is normally held by the spring against a seat 55 t cut off communication from the reservoir 48 to pipe 42, through passageway 57 in the v l device so that no oil flows from the reservoir 48 into the pipe 42 and as long as the oil line 42 and chamber 40 are completely full the ball valve 53 will remain seated. However, if the quantity of oil in pipe 42 and chamber 40 is reduced in volume by leakage or otherwise a vacuum will be created when the piston 32 travels toward the open end of the cylinder 3|. As the result of the vacuum, the ball 53 will be unseated against the pressure of spring 54 and sufficient oil to replenish the loss will flow through conduits 49, 51 and 5| into pipe 42. The vacuum is then broken and the ball 53 is again seated by spring 54 to cut off communication from the reservoir 48 to pipe 42.

The yieldable grid unit A. Figs. 3, 4 and 5, comprises a substantially rectangular body having a supporting yoke 6| at one end and a pair of spaced sides 62 which extend forwardly from the yoke. The yoke BI is slbstantially U-shaped in plan, as seen in Fig. 3, said yoke being formed with a rearwardly extending boss 63 having a hole or opening 64 formed lengthwise therein for the reception of the forward end of the piston rod 33 of the pressure measuring device D.

The piston rod 33 is fixedly secured within the boss 63 by means of a set screw or other suitable fastening means, indicated at 35, Figs. 3 and 4. The hole 64 extends only part way through the boss 63 so that the arcuate wall 36 of the yoke 6| presents a solid unbroken front surface, Fig. 4. The two legs 61 of the yoke 6| terminate in vertically disposed flanges 68 having flat faces to which are secured the ends of the sides 62. The sides 62 of the grid unit A constitute holders for a plurality of grid plates to be hereinafter described, these holders being spaced apart a suitable distance and being arranged parallel with respect to each other.

Projecting outwardly from the outer face of each side 62, is a boss 1!) (Fig. 5), having a hole H formed therein through which the guide rods 21 and 28 extend. The guide rod 27 extends through the hole H of the holder 62 at one side of the grid unit A, and the guide rod 28 extends through the hole H of the holder 62 at the other side of the grid unit, said guide rods being mounted in said bosses so that the grid unit A is slidable freely lengthwise on the guide rods.

Formed in the inner walls of each holder 62, are a series of horizontally disposed equally spaced apart slots or grooves 13 (Fig. 5), which extend lengthwise of each holder 62 (Fig. 3), said slots being closed at one end by the vertical faces of the flanges 63 of the yoke 6!. The slots or grooves 13 of one holder 62 are horizontally aligned with respect to the slots or grooves 13 of the other holder 62, as shown in Fig. 5.

A series of vertically spaced grid plates extending transversely between the holders 62 at the rear of the chamber C have their ends seated in each of the aligned pairs of slots 13, excepting only the uppermost and lowermost pairs of slots, 13 and 13 respectively, in which no grid plates 15 are mounted. The grid. plates 75 are arranged with one longitudinal edge of each plate disposed against the faces of the vertical flanges 68 of the yoke Bi and they constitute the stationary shearing blades of the apparatus. The longitudinal edges of the grid plates 15 opposite to the edges which abut the flanges of the yoke 6| are arranged in vertical alignment as seen in Fig. 4. and those edges of said grid plates taken collectively constitute one of the walls of the chamber C heretofore referred to, said wall having a series of horizontal openings 16 arranged transversely thereof and defined by the spaces between grid plates 15. The purpose of the horizontal transverse openings it will be hereinafter described.

Also seated within the slots or grooves 53 in which the grid plates or shearing blades 15 are mounted, and extending longitudinally of each holder 62, are guide strips H, the rear ends of which abut against the front edges of the grid plates '15. These guide strips are so constructed and arranged that they provide longitudinal ribs at each side of the chamber C, which ribs are located in the planes of the grooves or slots 13 and provide between them longitudinal guideways it! which are located in the planes of the transverse openings 15 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Each longitudinal rib H is formed intermediate its length with a notch 19 (Fig. 3). The notches 73 in the ribs T! at one side of the grid unit A are all arranged in vertical alignment with each other, and likewise the notches '59 in the ribs H at the other side of the grid unit are all arranged in vertical alignment with each other, all of said notches being disposed the same distance inwardly from the front end of said grid unit. Mounted in aligned pairs of notches l9 and extending transversely of the grid unit A, are grid plates 89 which are of somewhat less width than the width of the grid plates l5 and provide cleaning or scraping blades at the front portion of the chamber C. The longitudinal edges of the scraping blades provided by the grid plates 8!! are arranged in vertical alignment (Fig. 4), and the inner edges of said scraping blades taken collectively constitute the outer transverse wall of the chamber C, said wall having a series of horizontal openings 8| arranged transversely thereof and defined by the spaces between the series of vertically disposed scraping blades 83. The openings 8| in the front wall of the chamber C and the openings 16 in the rear wall. of said. chamber are disposed in the same horizontal plane as is the plane of the guideways 18 at each side of the chamber C.

The shearing blades provided by the grid plates l5 and the longitudinal ribs provided by the guide strips or ribs l! are retained in the slots l3 against lengthwise movement thereof, by end straps 82 which are secured to the outer ends of the holders 62, by screws 83 (Fig. 5).

From the foregoing it will be noted that the chamber C is located at the end of the grid unit A having the yoke 6| and that the sides 62 extend forwardly from the front of the chamber C defined by the scraping blades 38, so that the guideways 18 at each side of the chamber C likewise extend forwardly a suitable distance beyond the front of said chamber for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Slidably mounted within the guideways provided by the slots 13* at the extreme upper portion of the grid unit A, is a cover plate or slide 85 (Figs. 5 and G), to which is secured the rearwardly extending base 86 of a feed hopper or funnel 87. The base 35 of the feed hopper 81 may be secured to the cover plate 85 by means of an inverted screw 88 which extends upwardly through the members 85 and 86. A handle 89 is threadedly mounted on the upper projecting portion of the screw 88. The construction. and arrangement of the cover plate 85 and the feed hopper 81 is such that when the cover plate 85 is in one position it closes the top of the chamber C, and the feed hopper 8'! is disposed in an offset position with respect to said chamber. In the present instance the feed hopper 87 is disposed above the yoke I" when the: cover plate is positioned to closethe top of the-chamber C (Fig. 4). When' the. cover plate 85 and feed hopper 8! are shifted toward the right bymeans of operating handle 89, the open bottom of the feedhopper can be brought into'registration with the upper end of the chamber C so that a batchof peas can be fed through said hopper into said chamber (Fig. 1).

In order to render-the cover plate 85 and the feed hopperB'I stable, the'cover plate (Fig. 6) is formed with elongated. portions 90 and SI which extend in opposite directions from both ends of said cover plate, said. extended portionsbeing mounted-Within the guideways provided by the slots 73*. The portions 90, 9I provide .spaced apart legs, the legs a 90 being located adjacent to the bottom of the-feed hopper .81.

The space between thelegs 90 form an. opening which can beregistered with the top of the chamber C by sliding the cover plate 85 and feed hopper 81 lengthwise .of the grid unit A. -As shown in Fig.

4 when the cover plate 85 is positioned to close the.top of chamber 0, the extremities of the legs 90 abut the surface 68 of the yoke BI and in this (manner .theshifting movement of the-cover plate85 and the funnel 81 mounted thereon is arrested.

As shown in Figs. 4, and 7, slidably mounted within theguideways provided by the slots 13 at the extreme lower portion of the grid unit A, is a base plate 93 having elongated end portions- 94,95 which extend in opposite directions from the main body of thebase plate and are disposed in said slots. The construction of the base plate 93 is substantially similar to the construction of the cover plate 85, the base plate:

provide suitable mechanism comprising a lever 96 pivotally mounted intermediate its length on the base I I, as indicated at 91 (Figs. 1 and 5). Oneend portion of the lever 96 has a slot 98 formed lengthwise thereof, in which slot is disposed a roller 99 mounted on the underside of the base plate 93. .An operating handle I00 is fixed to the outer end portion of the lever-96 by which said lever is adapted to be operatedto slide the base plate 93 lengthwise of the slots 73* from and to chamberclosing position.

In order to maintain the yieldable grid unit A in a predetermined position between testing operations, there is provided a rod IOI (Figs. 2 and 3) having one end secured to the yoke GI and its other end portion extending through an opening in an ear I02 fastened to the stationary cylinder block of the pressure measuring device D (Fig. 2). A nut I03 is threadedly mounted on the outer. end of rod IIII to form a stopagainst-the ear I02, and this nut is retained in adjusted position on the rod by means of a lock nut I04. Since the yieldable grid unit A is fixedly connected to the piston 32 of the pressure measuring device D, by piston rod 33, regardless of the amount. of movement of piston 32 in the cylinder 3| in a direction toward the left, Fig. 8, when the tenderness: of a batch of peas in chamber C is being determined, the grid unit A will return to the; same; position after each testing operation, since the return move-H- ment of the grid unitwill be arrested when stop nut I03 engages the ear I02. Inthe same manner the-returnstroke of piston 32 is also limited and, consequently, variations in the registry of the-pointer 45 of the pressure indicating gauge.

4| when it returns to. starting position, are. avoided.

The positively movable grid unitB (Figs. 1,

2, 3 and 4), comprises a plurality of thin'grid plates I05 which constitute shear blades. These.

shearblades I05-have their longitudinal. side edgesmounted. inthe guideways 18 for free sliding movement of the blades back and forthv in the guideways and through the spaces provided therefore between the grid plates I5 and of the yieldable. grid unit A. Sincethe guide-..

ways I8 have a greater lengththan that of the chamber C, said guideways are in constant engagement with theshear blades I 05 for guiding said shear .blades in alignment with the slots or openings I6 and 8| heretofore described. The corners of the ,inner end portions of the shear blades I05 are formed with pointed extensions I05 adapted to deflect peas within the chamber. C away from the guideways 18 when the grid unit B is moved into the chamber during testing, and this construction assists in keeping the guideways clean and. preventing binding of the blades. therein. The shear blades I05 are of sufficient thinness relative to the size and character of a product being .tested by the apparatus, so as to shear rather than mash the product. In case of peas I have found that shear blades having .a thickness of .109" are satisfactory.

The rear end. portions of the shear blades I05 are loosely secured in a holder I06 rigidly. fixed to .the forward end of a piston rod In! of the power transmitting mechanism E (Fig, 4). shear blade holder I06 of the positively movable grid unit B comprises an elongated vertically disposed member having a vertically disposed The blades I05 are retained within the slots I09 'by means of a vertically disposed rod IIO which is inserted in aligned openings III in the blades-and is mounted'in aligned notches II2 formed in a wall II3 of the nose I00 (Fig. 3). Threadedly mounted on the upper end of the rod-H0, is a nut H4 which rests on top of the holder I06 andsupports-the rod I I0 in position in said holder. The openings III in the blades I05 are somewhat larger than the rod H0 so that the blades are but loosely retained by the rod for free floating movement with respect thereto without danger of binding. The notches II 2 in the nose I08 are also larger than the rod H0 so as to provide a loose connection between theholder and the-rod and the depth of the slots I09 is such that when the'shear blades I05 are advanced inwardlytof the yieldable grid unit A, no force is applied to the rod, the operating force being applied directly to the shear blades I05 throughbontact of their-ends with the inner- This walls I I5 of the slots I09. On the other hand, when the shear blades I05 are pulled in an outward direction of the yieldable grid unit A, the pulling force is applied to the rod IIO.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the yieldable grid unit A provides a chamber C for a batch of peas, said chamber being substantially rectangular or hexahedronal in outline and having opposed rear and front walls formed of aligned shearing and scraping blades, respectively, said blades being spaced apart to provide a series of aligned elongated slots therebetween for receiving and guiding the series of shear blades for sliding movement through the chamber to shear a batch of peas therein. Moreover, it should be particularly noted that the shear blades are loosely connected to the holder of the positively movable grid so as to permit floating movement therebetween and, therefore, the alignment of th blades with respect to the guideways is assured, binding therebetween eliminated, and friction between them minimized with a result that the resistance of the peas to the shearing action of the blades will more accurately be reflected upon the dial of the gauge 4!.

Arranged transversely of the apparatus, and mounted on the guide rods 21, 28 and piston rod I07, is a guide member II9 for the positively movable grid unit B. The guide H9 is disposed adjacent to the shear blade holder I06, and is fixed to the piston rod I! by set screw I20 (Figs. 3 and 4) for reciprocating movement therewith in directions lengthwise of the guide rods 2?, 23. Each end portion of the guide member II9 is also provided with hushed openings I2I (Fig. 1) through which the guide rods 21, 28 extend So that the guide member is freely slidable on the supports provided by said guide rods. The purpose of the guide member H9 is to support the outer end portion of the piston rod I01 so that said piston rod is retained at all times in proper alignment with the longitudinal center line of the cylinder block 23 of the power transmitting mechanism E. The guide member II9 also prevents any rotation or sagging of the piston rod I01 which might tend to misalign the holder I05 with the shear blades I05 and cause binding.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 11, the cylinder block 23 of the power transmitting mechanism E is formed with a cylinder I25 for a piston I26 mounted on the outer end of the piston rod I01 heretofore referred to. One end of the cylinder I25 is closed by a wall I21 formed integral with the cylinder block 23, and the other end of said cylinder is closed by a removable cover I28 which is secured to the end of the cylinder block 23, by securing elements I29 (Fig. 1). The end wall I2? of the cylinder is formed with a boss I30 which extends outwardly therefrom. The boss I30 is formed with an opening through which the piston rod I01 extends, the joint therebetween being sealed by means of a packing gland having a packing ring I3I threadedly mounted on the outer end portion of the boss I30 in well known manner.

The movement of the piston I26 is automatically stopped at the end of each stroke of the piston, by a poppet valve device, generally indicated at I35 in Figs. 9 and 11.

The valve device I35 comprises two tapered poppets I36, I37, fixedly mounted on the opposite ends of a stem I38, slidably mounted in a bearing I39 extending through the body of the piston I26. The poppet I36 is disposed in chamber I40 at one side of the piston I26 and is arrangedto engage a valve seat I4I formed in the outer portion of a recess I42 counterbored in the side of the piston facing chamber I40. The poppet I 37 is disposed in chamber I43 at the side of the piston I26 opposite to the side in which the poppet I38 is located, said poppet I31 being arranged to engage a valve seat I44 formed in the outer portion of a recess I45 counterbored in the side of the piston facing chamber I43.

The valve stem I38 has such a length that when poppet I35 is seated against valve seat I4 I, poppet I31 will be unseated from valve seat I44, and when poppet I5? is seated against valve seat I44, poppet I36 will be unseated from valve seat MI.

The poppets I36, I37 are arranged to control communication through the piston I26 from chamber I50 to chamber I43, and vice versa, provided by a plurality of passageways I46 which are formed through the body of said piston. As shown in Fig. 13, the passageways I46 are radially disposed with respect to the longitudinal center line of the valve stem I38, said passageways being spaced apart equal distances from each other and terminating at each end within the confines of the recesses I52 and I45, respectively, so that when either poppet I36, I3? is seated, communication through the piston I26 will be cut-01f. The manner in which the poppet valve device I35 functions to automatically control the movements of the piston I26 will be hereinafter described in connection with the description of the operation of the power transmitting mechanism E.

In the normal inactive position of the parts of the testing machine, the yieldable grid unit A is held by stop nut I03 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The positively movable grid unit B is disposed in a retracted position with respect to the yieldable grid unit A, and, consequently, the piston I26 of the power transmitting mechanism E is disposed at the right hand end of cylinder I25 (Fig. 9), being spaced a slight distance from the inner surface of cover I28. When the piston I25 is disposed in the above manner with respect to the end of the cylinder I25, one end of the stem I30 of the poppet valve device I35 abuts the inner surface of the cover I28, whereby both poppets I36, I31 are unseated from the valve seats I4I, I44, respectively. Consequently, when the testing mechanism is inactive, operating fluid is permitted to flow through the piston I26.

In the present instance the operating fluid for the power transmitting mechanism E is oil, and the oil is continuously circulated through a closed circuit to be hereinafter described, by a pump I5I, constantly driven by an electric motor I52, Figs. 1 and 2. The closed circuit of the operating fluid includes the cylinder I25, and the flow of operating fluid through said cylinder is under the control of a valve device I53 mounted on top of the cylinder block 23. For convenience, the pump I5I and the electric motor I52 may be suspended from the underside of the base II of the frame of the machine, the motor I52 being connected to the pump in driving relation by shaft I54.

The control valve device I53 comprises a hous ing I5l formed integrally with the cylinder block 23 of the power transmitting mechanism E, said housing having a cylindrical chamber I58 therein for a valve element I59. As shown in Figs. 9, 11 and 14, the longitudinal center line of the valve chamber I58 is arranged at right angles .11 with respect. to the longitudinalcenter. line of the power cylinder 125.1. Leading from one side of the valve chamber. I58 and connected tothe .power cylinder I25 at .the outer end of the chamber I40, is a passageway I60 (FigsQand 11), and leading from the opposite side of said valve chamber and connected to the power cylinder I25 at the outer end of chamber I413, is apassageway IBI. The passageways I 60, I6I. provide fluid distribution passageways connected to the opposite sides of the valve chamber I50 in spaced relation to the ends of said chamber, and the valve elemeritv I59 is arranged to control the flow of operating fluid through the passageways I60, I6I in the manner to be hereinafter more fully described.

As shown best in Fig. 14, mounted on one end of the control. valve housing I51 is a cap I62, and mounted on the ,oppositeendof said housing and forming an extension thereof is a casing I63 for a relief valve device. The casing. I63 has a pair of conduits 164,. I65 formed lengthwise thereof, the inner ends of said conduits terminating at an end of the valve chamber I59. Leading from the pressure side of the oil circulating pump I5! and connected to the outer end of the conduit I64, is a conduit I66. Connecting the intake side of the pump I51 and the outer end of the conduitI65, is a conduit I61. The arrows F and R in Figs. 2 and 14, indicate the direction of. fluid flow through the conduits I66, I61, respectively, conduit I66 being the supplyor feed conduit, and conduit I61 being thereturn conduit.

Oil for maintaining the parts of the power transmitting mechanism Efull at all times is obtained from a tank I68 having its outlet connected to the return conduit I65, by pipe I69, as shown in Fig. 15. The tank I60 has a cover which is removable when it is desired to replenish the supply of oil in said tank. Since the-tank is located above the control valve device-l53, oil will, flow by gravity therefrom into conduit I65 so .that the. cylinder I25, control valve device I53, pump I5I, and the conduits connecting the same will at all times be fullof operating fluid.

The valve element I59 of the flow control valve device I53 comprises a'rotatable valve or gate having a length less thanthe length of the valve chamber I56 (Fig. 14) One end wall of the valve -I59 is-arranged'to'abut the inner face of the re- -lief valve casing I63, and the other end wall of the valve is spaced from the inner face of the cap I62 so that a cavity I is provided at one end of the valve chamber I58. A valve stem I1I extends from the end of the valve I59 facing the cavity. The valve stem Ill passes through an opening I12 formed in the cap I62 and boss I13 projecting outwardly from the cap, and terminates at a suitable distance beyond the outer end of said boss. The joint between the valve stem III and the cap I62 is sealed by means of a packing gland having a packing nut I14 threadedly mounted on the outer end portion of the boss I13.

The gate or valve element I 59 is normally retained with its inner end abutting the inner face of the relief valve casing I63, by means of a combined compression and torsion spring I which encircles the portion of the valve stem disposed within the cavity I10, one end of said spring being secured to the stationary cap I62 and the other end being fixed to the gate I59, (Fig. 14).

Formed longitudinally withinthe body of the valve I59, in spaced relation to the longitudinal .center .line thereof, are passageways I8I, I82,

.I83. and;.I84; These passageways communicate withthe conduits I64, I65, andextend only .part

- way..through the valve. Thepassageways I6I,

I 82 terminate at aport I85, and thepassageways 5 I83, I96 terminate at aport' I86. The ports I85,

(I86 are formed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the valve I59 and are arranged to connect the. passageways I8I, I82, I83 and I84 with the passageways I60, I6I so that oil under pressure 10 from the pump I5I will be supplied to chambers 90,. I63 for actuating the piston- I26, of the power'transmitting mechanism in the manner to be hereinafter described.

- Within the casing I63 is a pressure relief valve 15 device comprising a ballvalve I90 backed by a predetermin d strength spring l9I (Figs. 14 and 15), variable by adjusting means I92. The ball I90 is normally held by spring I9I' against a seat I93 to cut-off communication from conduit I64'to conduit I65; through by-pass conduit I94 in the valve device. The pressure of spring I9I is greater than the normal pressure of the oil flowing through the conduit I64 from the pump I5I toward the flow control valve device I53 and the operating or power cylinder of the machine.

When the pressure of the oil in the line from the discharge side of'the pump I5I increases a predetermined amount above the pressure of spr ng 9I against ball valve I99, such for instance as when the movement of the movable grid unit B is impeded by the shear blades I05 thereof encountering sticks, stones, or other hard foreign matter which may have been deposited with the batch of peas in chamber C, the ball I90 will be unseated to establish communication through bypass conduit I94 and from thence through .the return line I65, I61 to the intake side of pump I5I. In this way, whenever the resistance to the movement of the operating piston I26 increases above a predetermined amount, the continuous flow of operating fluid toward the piston chamhere in cylinder I 25 temporarily passes through a circuit which by-passes the flow control valve device I53 and the power or operating cylinder 125, until the obstruction to the movement of the piston I26 is removed and the fluid pressure reduces and the ball I90 is seated by spring .I9I to cut-off communication through theby-pass conduit I94.

For the purpose of preventing an endlwise movement of the gate or valve I59 within. the valve chamber I53 due to excess pressure of the oil delivered by the conduit I64 to said ,valve chamber as opposed by the pressure of the torsion a sprin 15 within the cavity I10 acting against the outer end of .said valve, a by-passconduit I96 (Figs. 9, 11 and 14) is provided aroundthe valve I59. The Icy-pass conduit I96 is formed in the body of the controlvalvedevice I53 and has a port I91 at one end in communication with the joint between the inner end of the fluid supply conduit or passageway I64 and the rear face I98 of the valve I59,.and terminates at the other endat cavity I10. Thus the cavity.I10 is filled .with oil supplied by leakage around the joint referred to and passing through the by-pass. I96 so that the pressure of oil in the cavity, plus the ,pressure of the torsion spring I15 maintains .the rear face I98 of the valve I59 against the face I99 of the relief valve casing "53 at all times.

, ,Mounted on the outer endportion of the valve stem I'II, is a disc 20I which is made rigid with .said valve stem by means of a key 202 (Figs 10 and 12). Projectingradially from the'periphery of the disc 20 I, is a handle 203, by which the valve I 59 is adapted to be manually operated in the manner to be hereinafter described. A portion of the periphery of the disc 29| is reduced radially, as indicated at 204, to provide a pair of shoulders 265, 206, the shoulder 206 being extended inwardly of the body of said disc to provide a notch.

A locking member 201 is pivotally mounted on the cylinder block 23, as indicated at 208, Fig. 1, one end of said locking member bein formed with a nose which constitutes a detent 209. When the valve I59 is in one position the detent 209 is adapted to engage shoulder 205 and when the valve is in another position the detent is adapted to engage notch 206. Normally the torsion spring I15 urges the valve I59 in the direction in which the detent 299 engages the shoulder 205.

The lower end portion of the locking member 291 has an opening 2 I formed therein for loosely receiving a rod 2| I as best shown in Fig. 1. The outer portion of the rod 2| I which extends through the opening 2I8 is threaded to receive nuts 2I2 which are positioned on each side of the locking member 201. The rod 2 is slidably mounted in a slot 2I3 formed lengthwise in the guide rod 21 (Figs. 3 and the inner end of rod 2| I being bent downwardly to provide a finger 2 I4 which is disposed between a boss of the grid unit A and an end of the guide member H9.

Surrounding the rod 2 and bearing at one end against nut 2 I2 and bearing at the other end against the surface of ear 24 of the stationary cylinder block 23 of the power transmitting mechanism E, is a coil spring 2I5 which is arranged to maintain the detent 209 normally in engagement with the surface of the cut out portion 204 of disc 20I so that said detent will engage shoulder 205. The nuts 2I2 are threadedly mounted on the rod 2| I so that a loose connection is provided between the locking member 201 and the rod 2| I.

During intervals between tests, when the testing machine is in an operative but inactive condition, i. e., when the electric motor I-52 is operating the pump I5I, the parts are positioned so that the piston I26 is disposed adjacent to the right hand end of the cylinder I25 but in slightly spaced relation to the wall of cover I28, as shown in Fig. 9, and as a consequence the positively movable grid unit B is retracted with respect to the yieldable grid unit A, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. At the same time the handle 203 is disposed in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 10, so that the disc 20I of the flow control valve device I53 is positioned with the shoulder 205 thereof in engagement with the detent 209. The gate or rotatable valve I59 is thus disposed in the position shown in Fig. 9, whereby port I85 connects passageway I8I with passageway I6I, and port I86 connects passageway I83 with passageway I69.

As shown in Fig. 14, when the parts are positioned as just described, passageway I8I registers with the conduit or passageway I64 leadin from the pressure side of the pump I5I and passageway I83 registers with the return conduit or passageway I65 to the pump. The passageways I82 and I84 are both blocked off by the face I99 of the relief valve casing I63. Referring now to Figs. 9 and 14, oil under pressure from the pump I5I thus flows through the closed circuit including passageways I66, I64, I6I, port I85, and passageway |6I to piston chamber I43, and from thence past unseated poppet valves I36, I31 through passageways or ports I46, to piston chamber I40, and from thence the oil returns to the intake side of the pump I5I, through passageway I60, port I86, and passageways or conduits I83, I65 and I61.

When it is desired to test a batch of peas with the machine of the present invention, the upper cover plate or slide is disposed in the position shown in Fig. 1, so as to register the bottom of the feed hopper or funnel 81 with the top of the chamber C, and the base plate 93 is disposed in position to close the bottom of the chamber. The chamber C is then completely filled with peas and is then closed at the top by shifting the cover plate or slide 85 to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The handle 263 of the flow control valve device I53 is then manually moved from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 10 to the position shown in Fig. 12. This movement of the handle is through an angle of approximately and the gate or valve I59 is turned from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 11. The passageways ISI and I83 are now both blocked off by the face I96 of the relief valve casing I63 and passageways I84, I82 are registered with the conduits I64, I65 respectively. Oil under pressure from the pump I5! now flows to piston chamber I46 through conduits or passageways I66, I64, I84, port I86, and passageway I60, and piston chamber I43 is connected to the intake side of the pump I5I through passageway I6I, port I85 and passageways I82, I65 and I61. In passing through the passageways I46 of the piston I26 at the initiation of the reversal of flow through the power cylinder, the oil acts against poppet I31 which is not restrained and will yield under pressure, with the result the poppets I36, I31 are forced leftward of their positions shown in Fig. 9 thereby seating poppet I36 against its seat MI and cutting off communication through the passageways I46 in the piston I26. The pressure of oil builds up in piston chamber I40 and consequently piston I26 is forced toward the left into the position shown in Fig. 11. During the movement of the piston I26 in the left hand direction, oil in chamber I43 flows through passageways I6I, port I65 and passageways or conduits I82, I66 and I 61 toward the intake side of pump I5I.

When the piston I26 is thus moved in a left hand direction, it pushes the shear blades I05 of the grid unit 13 into the mass of peas in chamber C. The peas are first compacted by the shear blades and when the peas have been compacted into a substantially solid mass, shearing commences and the shear blades I 05 pass through the mass of peas within chamber C.

The resistance to both compacting and shearing is transferred to the yieldable grid unit A and from thence to the piston 32 of the pressure measuring device D. However, the movement of piston 32 within cylinder 3| is very slight and. occurs mainly during the actual shearing of the peas within chamber C by the shear blades I05 of the grid unit B. The movement imparted to piston 32 when the compacted mass of peas within chamber C are being sheared in the above described manner displaces the operating fluid in chamber 40 so that both pointers 44, 45 of the pressure gauge 4| are moved forwardly across the face of the dial 43 to the graduation registering the amount of resistance. At the completion of the shearing operation, pointer 44 will immediately return to the starting position, while pointer 45 will remain in registering position until --the passageways I46 of the piston I 26 from cham- .restrained and will yield under pressure, with -consequently piston I26 is forced toward the right,

' itheradvanced further by pointer 44 during's'ubsequent tests or returned to the starting position by the operator turning nut 41 on the outer end of shaft 46 in the manner heretofore described. It will be understood that the length of the stroke of piston I26 issufficient to push the front edges of the shear blades I05 through the plates 'theleft in the following manner. During the testingpperation, poppet I36 is seated against its seat I li. When the piston I26 approaches end wall I2! of cylinder 9 25, the end of the valve stem 5 I33 adjacent poppet I31 abuts the surface of said end wall as seen in Fig. 11. This holds the poppet valve device 535 stationary while the piston I26 continues moving towards the end wall I21. As the result the poppet I36 is unseated from its seat -'I lI, thereby establishing communication from piston chamber I40 to piston chamber I43, through the passageways Hi6. As soon as communication is thus established through the piston 525 the pressure of oil in the chambers I40, I 43,- 25 "at the opposite sides of the piston I26 becomes equalized, with the result the piston I26 comes to rest while both poppets I36 and I37 are unseated. The piston is then automatically returned to'its starting position in the manner now to bedescribed.

At the end of the movement of the piston I26 toward the left to telescope the grid unit B within the grid unit A in the above described manner, an end of the guide member I I9 engages the finger 2I-I on the end of the rod 2 (Fig. 1) and moves said rod and the lower end of the locking member 20? toward the left against the forces of spring 2I5. The upper end of the locking member 20'! is thereby swung in a clockwise direction so that detent 209 is disengaged from notch206. Torsion spring I then turns the gate or flow control valve I59 from the position shown in Figs. 11 and 12 to the position shown in Figs. 9 and 10, where the detent 289 engages shoulder 205 to retain valve I59 in position. Oil under pressure from pumpI5I is now supplied to piston chamber I43 through conduits or passages I66, I64, I 8I, port I85, andpassageway I6I. In passing through ber I63 to chamber I at the initiation of the reversal of flow through the power cylinder, the oil acts against the poppet I36, which is not the result the'poppets I36, I37 are forced toward the right, thereby seating poppet I37 against its seat-I44 and cutting off communication through the passageways I46 in the piston I26. The pressure of oil builds up in piston chamber I43 and the oil in chamber I40 returning to the intake side ofthe pump I5I, through passageway I60, port I66, and passageways or conduits I83, I and I61.

-The-movement of the piston I26 toward the right to withdraw the grid unit B from the grid unit A, is automatically stopped when the right handend of the valve stem I38 strikes the inner surface of the cover I28, Fig. 9. The poppet valve: device I35 is held stationary while the piston I26 continues moving toward the cover I23 until the poppet I3? is unseated from its seat I44, thereby establishingcommunication from chamber I43 *through' passageways I46 to chamber I40, so that the ressured- 011 in the chambers I40, I43,- at

the opposite sides of the piston "I 26 becomesequalized, and the piston I2'6'comes to rest. This completes a'cycle of operation by which abatch of peas is testedin the machine. The parts of the power transmitting mechanism E are now, as shown in Fig. 9; int-position for the next test.

When'the' piston"'l26 makes its return stroke in the manner "above describedthe shearing blades I05 are 'pulledby 'rod I I0 outwardly with respect to the yieldable grid unit A. Due to the -manner in which the shearing blades I05 are 'slidable between the Dlates15 and 86 of the grid unit A, all'solid matter, suchaspulp orthe like which may "collect on the shearing blades' I05 during the testing operation will bra-removed therefromby'theshear blades" I5 and the scrap ing blades "ancl will be deposited in the mass of material withinchamber (I. In fact the plates F l5, and-86 function as means forpreventingthe accumulation of solid matter on shearing blades I05during both'the forward and the rearward movements'of the shearing blades I through chamber C, so that at all times the'shearing blades arekept free ofsolid matter.

1 When the cycle of operation ofthe power transmitting mechanism E hasbeen completed, the waste material within chamber 0 should be removed. The cover plate 85 and the base plate 83 are shifted to the-position in which the top and bottom of the chamber are open. The material will then discharge from the chamber through an opening2l6 in-the base and slidedown chute 2I6 into a suitable rece'ptaclelnot shown) positioned beneath the-bottom of said chute, Figs. 1

and 5. Afterthe chamber C has been cleaned of all waste material, base plate 93 should be shifted to'the' position to close the bottom of said chamber (Fig.4) and'the machine is now conditioned for another batch of peas.

Having now described my invention,"and in what manner the same may be'used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: 1. An apparatusfor testing the tenderness of a product comprising a' yieldably mounted grid "unit formed to provide a receptacle'provided with bladesare slidably mounted for reciprocation into and out of shearing relation with'the slots of said yieldablegrid-unit, drive means for actuating said driven grid unit along said guideways to .shear through the productconfined between the grid units, and means for measuring the resistance of the product to the shearing action of said blades.

ZJ- Anap'paratUs for testing the tenderness of a product comprising a yieldabl mounted grid -unit'providing a receptacle having a series of shearing slots in opposite end walls thereof, a

posiuvelyuriven gridunit comprising a gang of shear blades adapted for telescopic registration with'saidslots, means for confining a product to in'which 'said shear'blades are slidably mounted for reciprocationinto and out of shearing relation with'theslots 'ofsaid yieldable grid unit,

75 dr iv' means for actuating said driven gridunit to shear through the product confined between the grid units, means loosely connecting said shear blades to the drive means for independent floating movement of the individual blades with respect to said drive means, and means for measuring the resistance of the product to the shearing action of said blades.

3. An apparatus for testing the tenderness of a product comprising a receptacle having a chamber therein for the reception of the product to be tested, said receptacle being provided with a plurality of slots in an end wall thereof and a series of aligned grooves in opposite side walls, a gang of shear blades slidably mounted in said grooves for reciprocation through said slots and the product in said chamber, means for reciprocating said gang of shear blades, and means for measuring the resistance of said product to the shearing action of said blades.

4. An apparatus for testing the tenderness of a product comprising a receptacle having a chamber therein for the reception of the product to be tested, said receptacle being provided with a plurality of slots in an end wall thereof and a series of aligned grooves in opposite side walls, a gang of shear blades slidably mounted in said grooves for reciprocation through said slots and the product in said chamber, drive means for actuating said gang of shear blades, means loosely connecting said shear blades to the drive means for independent floating movement of the individual blades with respect to said drive means, and means for measuring the resistance of said product to the shearing action of said blades.

5. An apparatus for determining the tenderness of a product comprising a female grid member having a chamber for receiving the product to be tested, guideways at opposite sides of said chamber, and a male grid member having a series of grid plates slidable within said guideways and movable through the chamber for shearing the product therein.

6. An apparatus for determining the tenderness of a commodity, comprising a member having a chamber therein for receiving the commodity to be tested, said chamber having slots in opposite end walls thereof and guideways in its opposite side walls, a series of plates slidable within said guideways for movement through said slots for shearing the commodity within said chamber, power means for forcing the plates through the commodity in said chamber, and means for indicating the resistance offered by the commodity with the chamber to the shearing action of said plates.

7. An apparatus for determining the tenderness of a product comprising a female grid member having front and rear verticall spaced apart grid plates and a chamber therebetween for receiving the product to be tested, guideways at each side of said chamber arranged in alignment with the spaces between said grid plates, and a male grid member having a series of fiat grid plates slidable within said guideways and movable through the spaces between said front and rear grid plates for shearing the product within said chamber.

8. An apparatus for determining the tenderness of a product, comprising a member having a chamber formed therein for containing the product to be tested, two opposed end Walls of said chamber having aligned slots formed therein and two opposing side walls of said chamber having opposing guideways formed therein in alignment with the slots in said end walls, a series of plates having their edges constantly in engagement with I8 corresponding opposing guideways and being slidable through the slotted walls of said member for shearing the product within said chamber, and means connected to said plates for forcing the plates through the product in the chamber.

9. An apparatus for testing the tenderness of a product comprising a female member having a chamber for receiving the product to be tested, shearing elements in said female member comprising spaced plates in one wall thereof and aligned spaced scraping plates in the opposite wall thereof, the walls of said female member extending between said spaced plates and scraping blades being provided with guideways formed in registration with the spaces between said plates and blades, a male member having shear blades slidably mounted in said guideways for movement past said shearing elements to shear the product within said chamber, operating means for said male member, and means for measuring the resistance of the product to the shearing action of said blades.

10. An apparatus for testing the tenderness of a product, comprising a member having a chamber therein for receiving a batch of the product to be tested, said member having guideways formed in opposed walls of its chamber, a series of shear blades slidably mounted in said guide- Ways, said member having one end wall of said chamber provided with shear slots adapted to receive corresponding shear blades, a holder, means for loosely connecting the outer end portions of said shear blades to said holder whereby the blades are floatingly mounted in the holder, means for imparting a straight line movement to said holder and the blades loosely connected thereto whereby the blades are pushed through said chamber and into the slotted end thereof to shear the product therein, and means for indicating the amount of resistance the product within said chamber offers to the shearing action of said blades.

11. An apparatus for determining the tenderness of a commodity, comprising means forming a chamber for receiving the commodity, said chamber having a plurality of slots in a wall thereof, a series of flat plates slidable within said slots for shearing the commodity within said chamber, a reciprocable holder for pushing the plates through the commodity in said chamber, and means loosely connecting said plates with said holder for independent floating movement of the individual plates with respect to said holder and adapted to pull the plates outwardly of the chamber.

12. An apparatus for determining the tenderness of a commodity, comprising a housing having a chamber for receiving the commodity, said chamber having a front wall, a rear wall, side walls, a top and a bottom, slots formed in the front and rear walls in the same horizontal plane, longitudinally extending ribs formed on the side walls and arranged to provide guideways located in the same horizontal plane as the plane of said slots, and shear blades movable through said slots to shear the commodity within said chamber, the side edges of said shear blades being mounted in the guideways between the longitudinally extending ribs and being supported thereby during movements thereof through said chamber.

13. An apparatus for determining the tenderness of a product, comprising a member having walls providing a chamber for receiving the product to be tested, said member having aligned slots in two of; the opposed walls thereof, snide?- ways. disposed at right angles iwithrespectrtoisaidz slots and extending from the rear slotted wall,

forwardly beyond thefront slotted. wall of said member, aseriesof flatplates mounted in said guideways and. slidablethroughsaid slots, means connected to said plates for moving the same through said chamber, said plates being: constantly in engagement with said guideways whereby the plates areguided. in align-ment with said slots, and means for indicating the resists ance offered by the product to the shearing ac tion of said plates.

14. An apparatus for determingthe tenderness of a commodity, comprising, means providing a chamber for receiving; the commodity, saidv chamber having slots in opposed, end walls thereof and corresponding,guidewaysin opposed. side walls of said chamber in alignment with said slots, a series of flat platesslidablewithin said. guideways for movement:through saidslotssfor shearing the commodity within the chamber, means connected to saidplates for forcing the plates through the commodity, in saidchamber, and means for measuring the resistance of the commodity to the shearing'action'of said plates.

15. An apparatusfor determining .the'tenderness of a commodity, comprising a. member having a chamber for receivingthe commodity and provided with shear slots in one of its end walls, said chamber having guideways in opposedxwalls thereof in alignment with the shear slots insaid" end Wall thereof, a series-of fiat plates sli'dablewithin said guideways for 'shearing the commodity within said chamber, a holder, means for loosely connecting said flat plates to said holder;

for independent floatingmovement of the indi: vidual plateswith respect tosaidr holder, power means connected to said holder forforcing the plates through the commodity in said chamber, and means for indicating the resistance offered by the commodity within said chamber to;the-.

shearing action of saidplates.

16. An apparatus for determining the tendernessof a product comprisinga female gridmemher having front and rear grid plates and; a chamber therebetween forreeeivingthe product to be tested, a male gridmember-having a'series; of flat grid plates slidable between thegrid plates of said female member for shearingthe product within said chamber, fluidv pressure operated means operable at a predetermined-pressure for operating the malemember, means for-=rendering said fluid pressure operated means ,inoperae tive when the operating pressure-therefor 'exceeds a predetermined amount, and means actuated by said female member for indicating the; amount of resistance of theproduct withimsaid chamber to the shearing. action of said malegrid member.

1'7. An apparatus for determiningthe tenderness of a commodity,

chamber having a plurality of slots in. a wall thereofla series of flat plates slidablew-ithin said chamber, a reciprocable holder for receiving the outer ends of said plates and adapted torpush: the plates through the commodity in said chamber solely by engagement of surfaces :of said holder with surfaces of said plates duringmovement of said holder in. one direction, and means for loosely connecting said platesto said holder, said last named means. beingadaptedtoexert a: pulling force. on said plates. to; withdraw -:.the;

comprising means forming. a chamber for receiving the commodity, said slots for shearing the commodity within said 2'0 platesfrom the chamber during movement of i said holder in the opposite direction.

18. A testing machine for determining the .movements, means connected to said holder for' moving said holder in one direction whereby said blades are pushed. by the holderthrough said chamber to shear the product therein, said meansconnecting the blades with the holder being;

adapted to exert a pulling action on the blades to withdraw the blades from the chamber when the holder is moved in the opposite direction, and means connected to said yieldable grid unit' for indicating the amount of resistance the prod uct withinsaid'chamber oifers to the shearing action of said blades when the blades are pushed by the holder therethrough.

19. An apparatus for determining the tenderness of a product comprising a yieldable femalemember having a chamber therein for receiving a mass of the product to be tested, a male mem-- ber having a series of grid plates slidable through the chamber of said female member for shearing; the product within said chamber, means actuated.-

by said female member when it yields to the resistance of the product within said chamber to: the. shearing action of said .grid plates for in-' dicating the tenderness of the product, fluid pres-,

sure operated power transmission mechanismfor operating the male member, a closed fluid circuit through which operating fluid for said power transmission constantly flows at a predetermined;

pressure, avalve device'for controlling the .flow of fluidthrough the closed circuit so as to'effect a single forward movement and a single rearward.

movement of said male member 'with respect to said female member when a testis being madeg and means for passing the operating fluid through the circuit when the pressure of them)- crating fluid exceeds a predeterminedamount during operation of the power. transmitting mechanism so that theipower transmittingmech anism is made inoperative.-

20. An apparatus for determining the'tende'rness of a product comprising a yieldable female" member having a chamber therein for receiving a mass of the product to be-tested, a male memher having a series of grid plates slidablethrough the chamber of said female member for shearing the productwithin said chamber, means actuated" by said female member when it yields to there-- sistance of the product within said chamber tothe shearing action of said grid plates for i-n-'-- dicating the tenderness of the product, fluid pres sure operated power transmission mechanism'foroperating the male member, a closed fluid circuit through which operating fluid for said power transmission constantly flows at a predetermined pressure, a valve device for controlling th flow of fluid throughthe closed circuit soas to'efiect" a single forwardmovement and a single rearward" movement of said male member with respect'to" said female member when a testis being made;

and means for passing the operating fluid flowing in .the closed circuit so that the operating fluid" 21 by-passes the flow control valve device and the power transmitting mechanism when the pressure of the operating fluid exceeds a, predetermined amount. I

CHARLES E. KERR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Blum et a1 Dec. 10, 1940 Christel Dec. 31, 1940 Martin Dec. 31, 1940 Simmons Apr. 7, 1942 Roberts July 2, 1946 

